Citra Restaurant Owner Dies Suddenly

That's the sentiment of some in one small North Central Florida town, coping with the sudden loss of a community leader.

Ted Moshou moved from Greece to Citra and started his latest restaurant in 2008.

It's known to many who live near by as a place where you can get good food for a good price.

But the community is coming together today at the restaurant to honor Ted, who passed away suddenly yesterday.

"He was like part of the community," said friend and patron Gene Collins.

Gene Collins eats at Ted's Restaurant frequently and became good friends with Ted Moshou, the owner and cook.

He remembers joking around with him yesterday afternoon.

"He was back there working and I told him he wasn't working hard enough," said Collins.

A few hours later, Ted passed away at 59 from a sudden heart attack while checking on his new property during his break.

It's something his friends and patrons didn't see coming.

"We don't have that many people in this area that are that type, that can talk to everybody when they come in and treat you like family," said Collins.

"He was a very generous person and god always calls nice people very fast, I don't know why," said Beaver's Discount Liquors owner Shauakag Lalani.

"Somebody that was walking down the road right before Christmas, that didn't have money, that didn't have anything. He offered them something to eat, where most people would shun somebody like that away from their business, he invited them in and gave them something to eat," said Tuff Times Traders Owner Tom Stout.

Ted and his family moved to Citra from Greece and started this Greek American restaurant, specializing in sandwiches, steak and salads.

His first customer and close family friend had lunch at the restaurant about an hour and a half before his death and couldn't believe his ears when he heard the news.

"It's never crossed my mind, him not being here. And like so many friends we lose as we go down through life path, but he was a very special friend of mine," said Gene Waldron, friend and Ted's first customer.

His wife and his two daughters are trying to keep Ted's Restaurant open.

"I think if we all get behind them, maybe we can help them out," said Collins.

"They are going to open back up in the morning and that is a blessing for us. And to help them, because that's what Ted would want," said Waldron.

Ted's family was too distraught to go on camera but they said they will be having a private funeral on Tuesday.